citrine penholder

A 19th-century 15 carat gold and citrine penholder in its original fitted case. The tip of the penholder bears a seal – also in citrine – with the text ‘Yeh Johnnie Cope are you waukin yet’ encircling a Scotsman in full dress playing the bagpipe. This is a line from a song by Adam Skirving (to hear the song, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygCQwx8u0d4&feature=related).

The penholder was most likely made in Scotland or England for a Scottish patriot. It commemorates the Jacobite’s victory over the Hanoverian army led by Sir John Cope at the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745 – even 100 years later! There is no maker’s mark.